Somebody Wants What You Have

Right now, someone in the world envies you. They admire your business. They covet your wardrobe. They lust after your husband. To someone, somewhere, you look like you have it all. Your website makes their mouth water. Your pictures on Facebook make them yearn for adventure in their life. Seeing you makes them crave more in their own life.

Feeling jealous is part of being human, but what we do with this emotion is a choice.

There are plenty of religions and spiritual practices that would have us believe that to want something another has is wrong. I’d like to suggest otherwise.

I’d like to suggest that noticing the good that someone else has got going on is a reminder of what you desire. It’s a clue as to where to point your ship as you steer your life. It’s a sign that you’re a living, breathing, emotive human being.

When you find yourself envying another, remember:

• Someone, somewhere, wants what you have too. Take a moment to be grateful for how amazing your life is right now. Notice specific things that you appreciate and breathe them into your grateful body.

• Embrace your envy. It’s great information that will help you make decisions to move you toward more of what you want in life and to steer clear of what you don’t.

• You always have a choice as to which kind of jealous you’re going to be: the bitter kind who resents someone else for what they have or the trusting kind who celebrates the success of another as an affirmation that if they can do it, so can you.

When you think the grass is greener at your girlfriend’s house or in your competitor’s business, get out your hose and water your own grass.

Channel your desire for what someone else has into practical actions that will get you what you want. When used this way, envy can be used for good instead of evil.

Source: Kate Northup